&#39;Sweet Thing&#39; magnolia

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Magnolia virginiana  var.  australis  cultivar, named ‘Sweet Thing’  Magnolia  that is characterized by its distinct dwarf, bush-like growth habit, slender, olive green foliage (which remain--even in winter), fragrant flowers and vigorous ability to withstand extreme variations in temperature and moisture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Magnoliavirginiana var. australis, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘SweetThing’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new dwarf cultivar of Magnolia virginiana var. australis, the‘Sweet Thing’ magnolia, was originally discovered by George L. DodsonIII, in a group of Magnolia virginiana var. australis seedlings plantedat Sleepy Hollow Nursery, 3506 Harrison Ferry Road, McMinnville, Tenn.37110, in 1990. Those responsible for this new cultivar are George L.Dodson III of Sleepy Hollow Nursery and Fernando Campbell Boyd III ofBoyd Nursery. The initially discovered tree is still growing in acultivated area at the Sleepy Hollow Nursery.

It was immediately recognized that the new cultivar, ‘Sweet Thing’, wasdistinctively different in growth from the other seedlings in the block.It had an attractive, denser, more compact branch structure and a slowergrowth pattern. The other seedlings growing in this population wereindicative of normal Magnolia virginiana var. australis with theexception of the selected individual. While the ‘Sweet Thing’ seedlingis shrubby and dense in its growth habit, the other seedlings in theblock are tall and leggy in growth. After 14 years, the other seedlingsin the block are 20′ or more in height and approximately 8′ wide andvery open in stature. In contrast, the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar isapproximately 8′ tall by approximately 6′ wide. After monitoring theinitial group for several years, it is apparent that while the typicalMagnolia virginiana var. australis seedlings grow tall and leggy, theMagnolia virginiana var. australis ‘Sweet Thing’ remains small, compact,dense, and evergreen year after year.

As shown in the photographic drawings, the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar isvery dense and full of foliage. The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar retains itsfoliage year round in the winter months in Zone 6b, which includesMiddle Tennessee, as do typical Magnolia virginiana var. australis. Asshown in more detail in the second and third photographic drawings, thefoliage is an olive green on the upper surface and has a silvery sheenon the glaucous underside surface. The leaves are more lanceolate thanis typical of the variety, measure approximately 7.6 cm to 16.5 cm inlength and 2.85 cm to 4.52 cm in width, and are lustrous. They are notquite as long as, and slightly lighter green in color than, the typicalMagnolia virginiana var. australis.

As shown in the fourth photographic drawing, the flower is cup-shaped,10 to 12 cm across. The flower is white in color. The species typicallyhas more of a creamy white flower. The flower is fragrant with a citrusscent and has 9 to 12 petals that and are approximately 4.5 cm to 5.5 cmlong and 1.9 cm to 3.5 cm wide. The petals are obovate, separate,involute, entire margin, obtuse apex, and fused at the base. Theblooming season is from August to October in Middle Tennessee and theblooms last about a week.

The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar is very winter hardy. The tree has proven tobe evergreen in a Middle Tennessee climate Zone 6b (USDA Plant HardinessZone Map). However, in the severe winter of 1996, the parent plant keptmost of its leaves when temperatures reached −10° F. (with a wind chillof −17° F.). In contrast, the other Magnolia virginiana var. australisin the initial group of seedlings lost most of their leaves, and the lowtemperatures damaged some of the trees. Thus, the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivarappears to have a greater cold tolerance than the typical Magnoliavirginiana.

The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar is also able to endure drastic changes in themoisture level. The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar has been successfully grownwithout any irrigation. In addition, the parent plant is planted closeto a river, and has been completely submerged underwater, because ofperiodic flooding, at least four times since 1990. Thus, the ‘SweetThing’ cultivar thrives in moist soil conditions while tolerating thehot dry conditions of summer.

The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar has been successfully propagated by asexualpropagation. The proven means of asexual propagation has been rootedcuttings. The propagation from the original ‘Sweet Thing’ Magnolia treebegan in 1999 at Boyd Nursery. It has been successfully propagatedthrough at least four generations of asexual reproduction, with thehighest rooting percentage coming from cuttings taken from the newestgeneration. The ‘Sweet Thing’ Magnolia has retained its outstandingunique features throughout each generation of new plants. Eachgeneration has been stable, and reproduced true-to-type plants each andevery time the plant has been propagated.

The unique appearance and growth pattern of the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivarmake it well suited for a variety of landscaping uses. It can be used asan evergreen shrub or planted close together to create a novel andattractive hedge to obscure certain areas from view. It is also wellsuited for use as a foundation plant for larger buildings or in areasthat are not large enough for a typical Magnolia virginiana. Since the‘Sweet Thing’ Magnolia is evergreen with attractive, lustrous, olivegreen foliage, flowers with a nice fragrance, and is dwarf, it should bea welcome new landscape plant for small and large gardens or variouslandscape situations. In addition, the unique and attractive ‘SweetThing’ Magnolia will make a great show piece for those desiring a rareor unusual Magnolia virginiana var. australis specimen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics in combination distinguish the new treenamed ‘Sweet Thing’ from other cultivars of Magnolia virginiana var.australis.

1. The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar is a dwarf variant of the Magnoliavirginiana var. australis that has a smaller more bush-like appearance.Young asexually propagated trees, like the initially discovered tree,all tend to grow with a multi-stem trunk. Thus, it is well suited forlandscaping applications and areas where a typical Magnolia virginianais too large.

2. The ‘Sweet Thing’ Magnolia has a longer, more slender leaf than atypical Magnolia virginiana that adds to its bush-like appearance. Inaddition, the slender leaves pose less of a clean up problem than thelarge, hard leaves of a typical Magnolia.

3. The leaf is a lighter green than a typical Magnolia virginiana whichcontributes to the ‘Sweet Thing’ Magnolia's distinctive and pleasingappearance.

4. The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar is more tolerant of extreme cold than atypical Magnolia virginiana var. australis, retaining its foliage yearround in a Middle Tennessee climate despite temperatures of −10° F.(with a wind chill of −17° F.).

5. The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar is able to endure drastic changes in themoisture level. The parent plant has been grown, and is thriving,without any irrigation and tolerates the hot dry conditions of summer.In addition, the parent plant has survived being repeatedly submerged bya nearby flooding river.

The ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar has not been observed under all possibleconditions and it is not known how the cultivar might respond to variousclimates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The first photographic drawing shows the parent ‘Sweet Thing’ plant atfourteen years of age at its home at the Sleepy Hollow Nursery.

The second photographic drawing shows a close up of the foliage and anemerging bloom of the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar.

The third photographic drawing shows a close up of the foliage and afully developed bloom of the ‘Sweet Thing’ cultivar.

The fourth photographic drawing shows a number of second generation‘Sweet Thing’ rooted cuttings vigorously growing at Boyd's Nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, and values describe the parentplant grown at Sleepy Hollow Nursery in McMinnville, Tenn. The actualappearance and characteristics of any individual will of course vary dueto horticultural practices and local conditions. The tree used for thedescription is about 14 years old. Color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where terms of ordinarysignificance are used.

-   Origin: Seedling from planted group of seedlings.-   Parentage: Unnamed Magnolia virginiana var. australis.-   Propagation. Asexual through cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth rate.—slow to medium, average 15 cm per year.        -   Form.—Small multi-stem tree or bush.        -   Shape.—oval to round.        -   Height.—8 ft in 14 years.        -   Spread.—6 ft in 14 years.        -   Density.—Thick with foliage.        -   Trunk size.—7″ diameter at the base of the trunk at ground            level at 14 years.        -   Bark.—(trunk): smooth, color is (197A to 199A RHS) textured            with tiny (1 mm) raised oval lenticels.        -   Stem.—On the new growth of the stem, the color is (144A-C            RHS). There are five main stems on the parent plant. They            range in caliper from 12″ to 2½″.        -   Lenticels.—Tiny, but conspicuous, silver, slightly raised,            oval, 1 mm.        -   Branching arrangement.—Bush-like, multi-stemmed, ‘Sweet            Thing’ can be trained to a single stem.        -   Leaves.—Evergreen.        -   Length.—Petiole 1.27-2.5 cm, average 2.1 cm; Lamina 7.6 cm            to 16.5 cm in length and 2.85 cm to 4.52 cm in width.        -   Width.—2.85 cm to 4.52 cm.        -   Form.—lanceolate.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Texture.—glossy above, silvery-white beneath.        -   Quantity.—abundant.        -   Color.—Upper side: light green (137A to 137B RHS). Lower            side: glaucous (silvery-green) (188B to 188D RHS).        -   Ribs and veins.—Pinnately veined with 12-16 nearly opposite            pairs (151A RHS).        -   Buds.—(Vegetative) terminal, silvery-white pubescence,            narrow conical, curved, 3.18 mm to 5.00 mm in diameter by            19.05-28.57 mm long. About (192A to 192D RHS) in color.            Lateral buds, silvery-white pubescence, narrow conical,            curved, 2.54 mm to 3.75 mm in diameter by 3.15 mm to 12.7 mm            long. About (192A to 192D RHS) in color.-   Flowers:    -   -   Dormant flower buds.—Terminal, silvery-white pubescence and            about (192A to 192D RHS) in color, bluntly pointed and            average 9.5 mm in diameter. They average 22 mm in length.        -   Flower.—cup-shaped, 10 to 12 cm across, white on the upper            surface (155B RHS), and white on the lower surface (155C            RHS).        -   Petals.—number between 9-12; 4.5-5.5 cm long, 1.9-3.5 cm            wide; obovate, separate, involute, entire margin, obtuse            apex, fused at base.        -   Fragrance.—fragrant with a citrus scent.        -   Blooming season.—from August to October in Middle Tennessee.        -   Bloom duration.—about one week.        -   Stamens.—3 to 4 mm long; abundant; white (155B RHS) before            anthesis, brown after; self-fertile.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—Yellow.        -   Fruit.—Subglobose to ellipsoid, light green to brown            conelike aggregate of follicles with seeds dispersed            throughout the follicles of the cone. Seeds are red in color            (42A RHS).-   Disease and pest resistance: No known susceptibility to diseases and    pests common to Magnolia virginiana var. australis.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sweet Bay Magnolia tree named ‘SweetThing’ as illustrated and described herein.